Customer Reviews

The Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Journey of the Sun from May Day to Harvest

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I bought this book because I really enjoyed John Matthews' other book, The Winter Solstice. Like that one, this one has all sorts of great history about how cultures have celebrated the solstice, the rituals, the symbols and gods/heros,the lore. There are great photographs and artwork scattered throughout as well as some activities for celebration.

The Chapters and a little preview as to what is in them are as folllows:

Fires of the Sun: the book opens with June 22nd at Stonehenge talking about druid rituals and then goes into all sorts of history and lore - calling back the sun, festivals of fire. Myths from egypt, norse people, asia are all talked about along with great pictures, talking about the cycles of nature. Raven and the Theft of Light is in here too. The chapter concludes with creating a midsummer shrine and some wonderfulu meditations

Gods and Heros of Summer: this chapter goes through all sorts of cultures and their sun gods - really interesting to see the differences and similarities. There's a meditiation entitled "Journey of the Sun" at the end as well as a blessing.

The Games of May: Neat chapter on how May revels were celebrated, the festivities and rites, some neat talk of fairies, and how to make a may day garland.

Midsummer Nights and Days: all about the sacred spaces, symbols,even a bit of Shakespeare. I loved the section on magical ferns!! And there's a neat section on having a misummer party - complete with gifts for fairies!

Gods of the Harvest: discussion of the gods/godesses of harvest time, how to make a corn doll

Days of the Sun: A Calendar of Festivals and Celebrations: (May through September)

There are absoloutely beautiful photographs and drawings throught every page of the book.

This book is one of the nicest and well done I have seen in a long time. It is well written and the pictures are breathtaking. I set it on my coffee table and have had nothing but positive reactions to it. The content easily lends itself to writing beautiful and meaningful rituals. I first saw it at the Summer Solstice ritual and just knew I had to have a copy for myself. I was delighted when I found it on Amazon. Amazon is always the first place I look for books and have never been disappointed by the quality of the books I have received. It was money well spent.The Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Journey of the Sun from May Day to Harvest